Transport up and down the Pyrenees to SJPDP?

Irish in QLD Australia

Folks, I plan on walking the CF in April 19, I have just turned 60 and have no intentions of breaking any speed or endurance records as I have all the time in the world to take myself on this walk.
I don’t want to walk all the way from SJPDP to Roncesvalles in one go and because I don’t want to be restricted to dates I’m unable to book Orisson...so my question is.......can I head off walking from St Jean and walk perhaps to Orisson or a bit further and get transport back, then transport back from St Jean to the same spot the next day and continue on. Thank you in advance.

Active Member

The vast majority of day one is walked along roads so I can't see it being a problem arranging for transport, the only issue would be communicating where you are if you didn't stop at a recognisable landmark like Orrison.

Another idea would be to take the Valcarlos route which may give you more accomodation options.

Irish in QLD Australia

The vast majority of day one is walked along roads so I can't see it being a problem arranging for transport, the only issue would be communicating where you are if you didn't stop at a recognisable landmark like Orrison.

Another idea would be to take the Valcarlos route which may give you more accomodation options.

Member

The Valcarlos route does not mean you are not climbing! If you take the Valcarlos route you get the heaviest part of the climbing in the end, after Valcarlos. That climbing part is not along the road, it is on a path through the mountains so it will be difficult to be picked up by a taxi. Keep also in mind that you can not have telephone connection everywhere, you are in the mountains.

The Route Napoleon has the heaviest climbing in the beginning, so a night in Orisson is a great opportunity to make the walk the next day much easier.

Member

Last April, I was 67. I started my walk on the Napoleon route, without carrying the loaded backpack, at 7:30 in the morning, one step at a time, and reached the albergue around 5:30 in the afternoon meeting the folks who over-passed me along the climb.

PS: It took me 10 hour to reach the destination as I had to stop and puff every 10 steps while walking up Pyrenees. As such, I earned a nickname as "A snail on the trail".

@Unie it is a little early to book with Orisson anyway yet - maybe in a few months you will have a definite start date? You don't need to restrict yourself to dates once you start, but you will probably have to decide at some point which day you will set off from St Jean. Then you could book for that night at Orisson if you want to. Unless you prefer to just see how you go on the day, in which case your idea of arranging transport back from Orisson if you have had enough by then sounds a good plan. I think it would be difficult to do so from a point further on than that, though, so the Valcarlos route could give you the opportunity to break the day into more even parts. You would not easily be able to call for transport between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles though.

New Member

There is a company a few doors down from where you get your passport, same side of the street, that deliver luggage. If you call in to them the day before you walk they will pick you up at the bar in orrison at 14:30 and bring you back down and then bring you back up next morning at 8:30. Used it myself just a week ago and it worked well . Cost 8 euro each way but was worth it

Irish in QLD Australia

@Unie it is a little early to book with Orisson anyway yet - maybe in a few months you will have a definite start date? You don't need to restrict yourself to dates once you start, but you will probably have to decide at some point which day you will set off from St Jean. Then you could book for that night at Orisson if you want to. Unless you prefer to just see how you go on the day, in which case your idea of arranging transport back from Orisson if you have had enough by then sounds a good plan. I think it would be difficult to do so from a point further on than that, though, so the Valcarlos route could give you the opportunity to break the day into more even parts. You would not easily be able to call for transport between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles though.

Thanks for responding, I thought I had to book Orrison yonks in advance and I don’t want to do it all in one day to Ron. My plan is to take my time and to not overdo it especially not at the beginning. I’m travelling from Australia and may rail / train from Paris and meander my way to SJPDP so I don’t want a firm start date. I think I have some sort of restriction phobia since I turned 60! Thanks again

Irish in QLD Australia

The Valcarlos route does not mean you are not climbing! If you take the Valcarlos route you get the heaviest part of the climbing in the end, after Valcarlos. That climbing part is not along the road, it is on a path through the mountains so it will be difficult to be picked up by a taxi. Keep also in mind that you can not have telephone connection everywhere, you are in the mountains.

The Route Napoleon has the heaviest climbing in the beginning, so a night in Orisson is a great opportunity to make the walk the next day much easier.

Irish in QLD Australia

Last April, I was 67. I started my walk on the Napoleon route, without carrying the loaded backpack, at 7:30 in the morning, one step at a time, and reached the albergue around 5:30 in the afternoon meeting the folks who over-passed me along the climb.

PS: It took me 10 hour to reach the destination as I had to stop and puff every 10 steps while walking up Pyrenees. As such, I earned a nickname as "A snail on the trail".

Irish in QLD Australia

There is a company a few doors down from where you get your passport, same side of the street, that deliver luggage. If you call in to them the day before you walk they will pick you up at the bar in orrison at 14:30 and bring you back down and then bring you back up next morning at 8:30. Used it myself just a week ago and it worked well . Cost 8 euro each way but was worth it

Active Member

Folks, I plan on walking the CF in April 19, I have just turned 60 and have no intentions of breaking any speed or endurance records as I have all the time in the world to take myself on this walk.
I don’t want to walk all the way from SJPDP to Roncesvalles in one go and because I don’t want to be restricted to dates I’m unable to book Orisson...so my question is.......can I head off walking from St Jean and walk perhaps to Orisson or a bit further and get transport back, then transport back from St Jean to the same spot the next day and continue on. Thank you in advance.

Veteran Member

Folks, I plan on walking the CF in April 19, I have just turned 60 and have no intentions of breaking any speed or endurance records as I have all the time in the world to take myself on this walk.
I don’t want to walk all the way from SJPDP to Roncesvalles in one go and because I don’t want to be restricted to dates I’m unable to book Orisson...so my question is.......can I head off walking from St Jean and walk perhaps to Orisson or a bit further and get transport back, then transport back from St Jean to the same spot the next day and continue on. Thank you in advance.

The simple answer is Yes.
This company. https://www.expressbourricot.com/persons-transport/
Scroll down the page on the link, and see Mountain Shuttle.
Either book online or see them when you get there. They now have an office just down from the Pilgrims office (same side of street)

"When I Have Your Wounded" - Dustoff Motto

Folks, I plan on walking the CF in April 19, I have just turned 60 and have no intentions of breaking any speed or endurance records as I have all the time in the world to take myself on this walk.
I don’t want to walk all the way from SJPDP to Roncesvalles in one go and because I don’t want to be restricted to dates I’m unable to book Orisson...so my question is.......can I head off walking from St Jean and walk perhaps to Orisson or a bit further and get transport back, then transport back from St Jean to the same spot the next day and continue on. Thank you in advance.

If using transport as a shuttle to take you back and forth to St Jean that first day and the next, a nice stopping point on Route Napoleon would be at the Virgen of Orisson. That gets you about halfway to Roncesvalles, and you will have walked about 12 kilometers. You will have covered the steepest part on that 1st day and then can return to get a good night's rest. The shuttle will return you the next day to the Virgen, and it will be a much easier day into Roncesvalles.

Because you can take a full day to cover that 12 kilometers, there is ample time to take a nice, easy pace, have plenty of rest breaks, enjoy a bocadillo at Orisson, and a good amount of time to enjoy the views and scenery.

Lance Chambers

If you look around the centre of this map of St Jean Pied de Port (see below) you will find, a blue, pin titled 'Beilari' this is a hostel and directly over the road is the Camino office where you can buy your Camino passport. They can offer you a lift to near the top of the Napolean Route and from there it's an easy walk to the top and then the steep descent into Roncesvalles if you want to avoid the walk up?

Or you could ask them if they would come and pick you up in the late afternoon to drive you back down to St Jean after you have walked up and to then drive you back up there the next day to finish your walking into Roncesvalles?

Beilari is a great hostel to stay in for your start on the Frances. They insist you be there for dinner as they have a meet and greet with all their walkers. I kept on meeting people from there on the Camino. It was lovely to meet 'friends' again and again.

Irish in QLD Australia

The simple answer is Yes.
This company. https://www.expressbourricot.com/persons-transport/
Scroll down the page on the link, and see Mountain Shuttle.
Either book online or see them when you get there. They now have an office just down from the Pilgrims office (same side of street)

Irish in QLD Australia

If you look around the centre of this map of St Jean Pied de Port (see below) you will find, a blue, pin titled 'Beilari' this is a hostel and directly over the road is the Camino office where you can buy your Camino passport. They can offer you a lift to near the top of the Napolean Route and from there it's an easy walk to the top and then the steep descent into Roncesvalles if you want to avoid the walk up?

Or you could ask them if they would come and pick you up in the late afternoon to drive you back down to St Jean after you have walked up and to then drive you back up there the next day to finish your walking into Roncesvalles?

Beilari is a great hostel to stay in for your start on the Frances. They insist you be there for dinner as they have a meet and greet with all their walkers. I kept on meeting people from there on the Camino. It was lovely to meet 'friends' again and again.

If using transport as a shuttle to take you back and forth to St Jean that first day and the next, a nice stopping point on Route Napoleon would be at the Virgen of Orisson. That gets you about halfway to Roncesvalles, and you will have walked about 12 kilometers. You will have covered the steepest part on that 1st day and then can return to get a good night's rest. The shuttle will return you the next day to the Virgen, and it will be a much easier day into Roncesvalles.

Because you can take a full day to cover that 12 kilometers, there is ample time to take a nice, easy pace, have plenty of rest breaks, enjoy a bocadillo at Orisson, and a good amount of time to enjoy the views and scenery.

Irish in QLD Australia

If you look around the centre of this map of St Jean Pied de Port (see below) you will find, a blue, pin titled 'Beilari' this is a hostel and directly over the road is the Camino office where you can buy your Camino passport. They can offer you a lift to near the top of the Napolean Route and from there it's an easy walk to the top and then the steep descent into Roncesvalles if you want to avoid the walk up?

Or you could ask them if they would come and pick you up in the late afternoon to drive you back down to St Jean after you have walked up and to then drive you back up there the next day to finish your walking into Roncesvalles?

Beilari is a great hostel to stay in for your start on the Frances. They insist you be there for dinner as they have a meet and greet with all their walkers. I kept on meeting people from there on the Camino. It was lovely to meet 'friends' again and again.

Thanks Lance, I do want to walk it all but want to break it up. I’m now armed with great info from you amazing folk here and I feel very positive. I’d hate for my Camino to finish early because of over doing it in the early stages.